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Juneteenth was observed in Selma and Dallas County over the weekend.

A Freedom Fest was held Saturday in the Z-105.3 FM Radio station parking lot. The theme for the event is “Freedom from murder,  drugs and violence,” because of the high violence in Selma.

On Monday afternoon, the Foot Soldiers Park’s 2nd Annual “Still We Rise” Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom was held.

Sam Walker, who works at the National Voting Rights Museum, said the first Juneteenth was honored in Selma in 2002.

“We’ve been hold this ever since 2002,” Walker said.

Rev. Evelyn Mann, a Selma native, who lives in Brooklyn, New Tork,

“I’m back in Selma helping with the affordable Housing situation,” Mann said.

The Foot Soldiers event was sponsored by The Coffee Shoppe Selma, Black Voters Matter, Auburn University College of Liberal Arts, By the River Center for Humanity.

Kimberly Smitherman, Co-Owner at B&K Superior Renovations and Maintenance, thanked the sponsors for the holiday, which honoring the end of Slavery.

“Our incredible sponsors are a testament to our community’s generosity,” Smitherman posted on Social Media.

Juneteenth is a Federal Holiday, but not recognized as a state holiday. Governor Kay Ivey first authorized Juneteenth as a state holiday in 2021 and the last two years, the legislature has not declared June 19th a permanent state holiday.